Thursday, January 7, 2010

EVERY PATIENT TELLS A STORY

by Lisa Sanders, M.D.

This is medical Sherlock Holmes that presents stories of real medical cases handled by different doctors. Dr Lisa Sanders has been the columnist of 'Diagnosis' in the the New York Times Magazine, which had also been the inspiration behind the TV drama 'House'.

Interestingly, her first career was in broadcast, mainly TV news covering medicine. But one day, while shooting a stand-upper [broadcast term for where one speaks facing the camera] with a doctor and having filming interrupted when he left the camera to save an elderly woman, the epiphany hit her that while broadcast reached millions but touches few, medicine reaches few but transforms the lives of those it touches. Then, she went to medical school.

Unlike 'House' style, Dr Sanders takes us, through the stories of the book, back to the lost art of physical examinations and listening to the patient.

'One of the most important and powerful tools a doctor has lies in her ability to give a patient's story back to the patient, in a form that will allow him to understand what his illness is and what it means. Done successfully, this gift helps the patient incorporate that knowledge into the larger story of his life. through understanding, the patient can regain some control over his affliction. If he cannot control the disease, he can at least have some control over this response to the disease. A story that can help a patient make sense of even a devastating illness is a story that can heal.'

I'm only at chapter three [and on the way to purchase the book], but already find that the author puts the heart of compassion back into medicine. Attending to the patient garners back its role in present day realities of handling patients.

Written in a style for anybody, with stories that will captivate anybody - physician or patient.

Where you can get it: S$44.04 Kinokuniya; National Library ISBN:9780767922463Level of impact: Better than the show 'House'Timing of book: Great holiday read, at-home read, or if you need to prepare something interesting in case you run out of things to talk about at a party. Every chapter illustrates a different story.

The Couch Blogger

I'm grateful to my father for teaching me to read, and introducing me to a couple who were voracious readers who modeled for me a lifestyle of reading in the family. Readers are instinctively drawn to each other and I'm grateful for friends who had shared their love of books with me. People who love to cook serve food, but book lovers know that if something is a good read, their friends must have it too because there is nothing more intimate than sharing a book with someone. My reviews are reflections on the books I have read - so they are very personal and stretch your imagination beyond the gist of the book. Whether you are a reader or not, I hope you will find a title here that inspires.